When have you felt excluded from a learning environment?
I think I felt excluded from a learning environment when I first came into a new learning environment. It happened several times during my whole learning experience and I think I will keep having new similar experience in the future. I think excluded from a learning environment can not be avoided because people are changing their learning enviroment all the time when they arr growing up.
One of the most common example is when people graduate from schools and go to higher level schools. People will feel sad and negative when they are separated with their classmates which have studied and cooperated together for several years. But it is fine because everyone is new in the new learning environment. Everyone needs to create his new circle and relationship with others again as they did in previous schools.
What I have experienced is that I have been a transfer students twice due to domestice factors. I have to say it is really a terrible feeling to be a transfer student. Compared to what I said in the previous paragraph, I went to a learning environment which I was the only new student. My arrival has broke the original balance and the whole class will be shuffled again. What I need to do is to try my best to establish relationship and connection with my classmates as soon as possible, or I will be excluded and isolated by the whole class.
What do you think could have been done to make it more inclusive?
According to the weekly reading, I found that interaction is indispensable for people to join or adapt the learning environment. The universal design framework is also a good way to make it more inclusive.
- learner-teacher
- learner-content
- teacher-content
There are many ways that interaction could be modelled in learning environments, but the main point of them all is that some sort of interaction is necessary for learning to occur. Sometimes that interaction is entirely within the mind of the learner when new ideas are incorporated into older ideas to form new knowledge or understanding.
- Multiple means of representation
- Multiple means of action or expression
- Multiple means of engagement
Planning for multiple means of representation means providing more choice in how a learner accesses materials and information. This would require providing materials with visual, auditory, and and kinesthetic options, as well as supporting prior knowledge and providing timely supports with necessary skills. Planning for multiple means of action or expression could look like learners demonstrating their new knowledge or skills in different ways.
I agree with your view that students may not be able to integrate into the class environment. This situation may lead to situations where a single learner is completely unable to participate in group assignments. Perhaps planning an interactive learning framework can actually help learners integrate into the environment.
Some really good reflections here in respect to the importance of interactivity in learning environments! Do you feel learner-learner interaction is most effective for you?